The best restaurants in Hollywood

Few restaurants aim for, little less achieve, the level of culinary precision and excellence on display at Providence on Melrose Avenue every night of service. While this hushed fine dining restaurant is based around seafood, it’s really much more than a fish palace. It’s one of the best fine dining restaurants on the West Coast, with the two Michelin stars to match. Fish just happens to be its primary muse—from farm-raised sustainable caviar to Dungeness crab, Maine lobster, abalone, geoduck clams, Spanish octopus, Santa Barbara spot prawns and wild, line-caught Atlantic striped bass. It’s pricey ($295 per person, plus supplements like the signature uni egg and salt-baked prawns), but it’s also the perfect way to splurge in Hollywood, or L.A. for that matter.

With dozens of celebrity photos and "best of" lists on the walls, chef Jazz Singsanong’s Thai Town restaurant is one of the city’s cult favorites—and serves Angelenos in memory of her brother, L.A. Thai-food legend chef-owner Tui Sungkamee, who passed away in 2017. The Crispy Morning Glory Salad is an obligatory dish: a flavorful mix of crunchy, deep-fried Chinese watercress, plump shrimp, red onions, cilantro, cabbage and bell peppers marinated in the spicy house dressing. If perusing the lengthy menu leaves you dazed and confused, the green mussel curry—succulent New Zealand mussels piled high and bathed in an aromatic Southern curry flavored with lemongrass, sweet pineapples and chiles—is a good place to start on the extensive list of fiery Northern and Southern Thai specialties.

Award-winning celebrity chef Nancy Silverton's Italian mecca at Melrose and Highland still draws crowds more than a decade in. Whether you're looking for the Michelin-starred, refined pastas and soulful plates of Osteria Mozza, the perfectly blistered, seasonally adorned pies at Pizzeria Mozza or the rustic wood-fired fare of Chi Spacca, this three-restaurant complex has a little something for everyone and continues, unsurprisingly, to be the city's gold standard. It's that good. Just whatever you do, whichever concept you're in, be sure to save room for dessert—there's creamy butterscotch budino to be had in the pizzeria, a killer apple pie at Chi Spacca and as always, seasonal flavors of gelato and sorbet.

This former La Cañada pop-up now has a fast-casual home in East Hollywood, and for once, the hype makes complete sense. Here, Bestia alum Lord Maynard Llera adds a chef's twist to Filipino classics, from the lucenachon (lechon-style porchetta) to buttery pieces of grilled fish served with housemade chili oil. For two, the signature Kuya trays are the perfect way to dig into one of the city's best Filipino restaurants, but the rice bowls are just as good for solo diners hoping for a memorable takeout meal. Though prices run somewhat high for a fast-casual, the quality—and flavor—of every dish makes sure Kuya Lord is worth every penny.

Oodles of butter, fluffy omelettes and a heart-stopping burger covered in bordelaise make Ludo Lefebvre’s Parisian-style bistro (with a strip mall location in Hollywood and fancier sibling in Sherman Oaks) the best place to head for decadent French fare in the city. The menu’s iconic French dishes—steak frites, mussels marinières and a wonderful daytime-only croque monsieur—display the kind of technical precision the hallowed cuisine requires, with an excellent wine list to match. Don’t skip out on the Big Mec, which we consider the city’s best burger, and leave room for one of Petit Trois’s excellent desserts.

This funky, fun restaurant run by Noree Pla and Fern Kaewtathip serves classics and dishes made from the recipes of a 90-year-old Thai grandmother. Enough said. If that hasn't already convinced you, here's a little more info: Though the setting is no-frills, we think it's just all the better to set the stage for some serious Thai heat. The Phuket-style crab curry Kanomjean is the move here, with whole claws and legs shooting up from a thick, spice-sludgy mix to be enjoyed with rice noodles and plenty of herbaceous accoutrements. For people with a lower tolerance for capsaicin, try their elegant jade noodles topped with fish balls, roast duck and red barbecue pork.

At 105 years young, Musso & Frank Grill is Hollywood's oldest restaurant, a steak-and-cocktails joint formerly favored by Charlie Chaplin and Raymond Chandler. Most recently, it’s been featured in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, though it’s also served as a backdrop for countless films. With its classic steakhouse dishes and individually priced sides (and salad dressings), the menu can be daunting. None of the food is particularly memorable, but I always enjoy a steak and the purportedly original fettucine alfredo. Every table also gets a half-loaf of housemade sourdough bread, the perfect accompaniment to Musso & Frank's legendary martini, which comes with a little extra in a sidecar on the side.

This stylish import from Paris offers globally inspired bistro fare, a newer daytime program of pastries and café standards and an understatedly chic atmosphere worthy of your next big night out. Whether you’re crunching into a pain au chocolate during the day or ordering creamy uni with koshihikari rice and confit egg yolk, every dish at Mr. T lands with just the right amount of flair—especially the mac and cheese, which even comes with its own tableside pyrotechnics show. To offset all the decadent French cooking, order a drink from the playful, first-rate cocktail program, where L.A. ingredients deftly integrate themselves into well-balanced drinks that take their names from old-school rap hits. For best results, grab a table on the patio, where string-lit olive trees and high hedges lend to a surprisingly intimate dining experience out in Hollywood.

Noree Pla and Fern Kaewtathip of Luv2eat Thai— one of L.A.’s best restaurants—have pulled off another feat of Thai gastronomy in the form of this cafeteria-style steam table concept located a few doors down from their original, critically acclaimed Hollywood restaurant. Look beyond the no-frills interior for flavorful curries, meat dishes and hard-to-find specialties you aren’t likely to find at your average Thai restaurant. To keep things interesting, the exact selection rotates on a weekly basis, though certain items like Phuket-style soy-braised pork belly and an excellent Thai-style iced tea, sold by the bottle, are always available. On our visit, I particularly enjoyed the fried hard-boiled eggs in tamarind sauce and yellow sour bamboo and fish curry.  Just be aware Luv2eat Express doesn’t play around with spice levels, so grab some napkins before you dig in; you’ll very likely need to blow your nose after your meal.

No matter how or what you order, you won’t be bored at Saffy’s in East Hollywood. Run by Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis, the couple behind citywide favorites Bavel and Bestia, this upscale-casual eatery offers mouthwatering kebabs and the sort of stylish ambience that’ll win you major cool points on a date. Though the tightly curated menu contains few, if any, missteps, the must-orders here are the kebabs, the hummus and the desserts—particularly the soft serve. Similar to its Arts District siblings, you’ll very likely need a reservation to dine here; technically, Saffy’s does take walk-ins, but the spontaneity-inclined might often find themselves turned away on busier nights or an hour-plus long wait for a table. If you find yourself in the area on a weekend morning, check out the Arabic breakfast starting at 9am. During the week, the coffee shop also serves excellent foccacia sandwiches.

This Caribbean-Angeleno lockdown pop-up has finally opened its long-awaited brick-and-mortar in East Hollywood. Founded by Rustic Canyon and Botanica alum Rashida Holmes, Bridgetown Roti now serves a brightly flavored fast-casual mix of rotis, patties and sides, plus an all-new menu of “Caribbean tings” like cod fish cakes, honey jerk wings and chickpea doubles (the last of which is only served on Sundays and Mondays). The tiny space fills up quickly during peak lunch hours, but the excellent rotis—served as either a wrap or in a bowl—and wealth of vegan options make Bridgetown a worthwhile citywide dining destination for lunch or an early dinner. On my visit, I particularly enjoyed the decadent oxtail patty, curry shrimp aloo (potato) roti and red pepper goat with peanut sauce, which I ordered as a bowl for maximal enjoyment with the many house sauces. In truth, however, you can’t really go wrong at Bridgetown Roti, since almost everything is delicious.

Housed within a Brutalist-inspired minimalist space, this standout omakase bar ($225) in Hollywood offers all the trimmings of the typical high-end sushi experience—plus a few extra noteworthy tricks. Originally from Tokyo, Udatsu Sushi’s overseas counterpart boasts a Michelin star. Here, the eight-seat concrete counter offers a meal orchestrated by Shingo Ogane, the protégé of eponymous founding chef Hisashi Udatsu. The chef’s skillful variance of texture and temperature result in a subtle yet satisfying 17-course meal on par with L.A.’s best omakase spots. Highlights of the current menu include a seasonal herb roll, smoked fatty tuna served with a hazy flourish and sea urchin topped with crispy fried nori. If you have the time, arrive a tad earlier for a cocktail on the patio (not included in the price) to take in views of the Hollywood Sign.

Right below Udatsu sits Rokusho, an upscale Japanese restaurant serving elegant, seasonally inspired cocktails and drinking fare. Unlike Udatsu, Rokusho is a spinoff concept led by local chef Carlos Couts, an alum of Encino’s Sushi by Scratch. While the elevated prices and atmosphere set Rokusho apart from a traditional izakaya, the well-executed dinner menu and unique space—it’s just as strikingly beautiful as Udatsu—translate into an excellent date night destination. More substantive signatures like the wagyu carpaccio and sushi cake will fill you up in no time, but you can also order kushiyaki and the standout, vegan-friendly chili tofu for a lighter meal. What impressed me the most, however, was Rokusho’s beverage program, courtesy of Felix Campos (formerly of Damian). Whether you’re ordering from the cocktail menu or opting for wine, sake or beer, there’s always something interesting to sip on—booze-free options included.

If you know, you know—Ari Kolender’s little neighborhood joint in East Hollywood is one of the most stylish places in L.A. for seafood cravings, with a couple of caveats. There are no reservations, and the wait here easily climbs past the hour mark, particularly if you’re coming with more than one other person. But good things come to those who wait: a creamy lobster roll in a sauce made of its own condensed bisque; scallop tostadas with yuzu kosho and basil; and the restaurant’s now famous raw bar selection full of creamy oysters, peel-your-own shrimp and sea urchin served straight from the shell. Paired with Found’s excellent natural wine list and the relaxed but cool ambience, a meal here is ideal for solo diners, pairs or groups of up to four (and we wouldn’t recommend rolling any deeper than that).

Serving European-style bistro fare with California influences, Horses is the infamous restaurant in the space that once housed Ye Coach & Horses—a Hollywood hideout dating back to the ‘30s. Horses takes a blended preservationist approach to its three-room interior, all while offering top-notch cocktails and lavish dishes, including fried veal sweetbreads, a cheesy, all-endive Caesar salad and a Cornish game hen dressed with dandelion panzanella. Both drinks and desserts, including a must-order dark chocolate tart with milk sorbet, are executed with razor-sharp precision, lifting the upscale Hollywood bistro from “pretty good” to the ranks of “great.”

Curtis Stone’s Michelin-starred steakhouse greets you with a butcher case as soon as you open the door, tempting you with coils of lamb sausage or hefty cuts of steak to take home. But not everyone is a wiz when it comes to cooking their own meat, which is why the stunning restaurant component is always worth a visit. On their way in, diners may also stop in awe at Gwen’s glitzy dining room, where chandeliers dangle above and that open fire pit separates diners from the kitchen for an entirely modern-elegant affair. During the day, you can also pick up pies, pastries and amazing sandwiches.

The homestyle cooking of this Thai Town joint attracts traditionalists citywide. You won't find fusion or overly sweet noodles at Sanamluang Café—only some of the best Asian comfort food (and slightly intimidating waitresses). Start with the classic tom kha kai, a spicy coconut soup with plump chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, lime juice and fresh chili for a refreshing starter. Then take a menu detour with the khao pad krapow gai, a satisfying and fiery chicken-basil-rice stir-fry topped with an optional egg, and khana moo grob: This crispy and juicy chunks of pork paired with broth-wilted Chinese broccoli is a must. Wear relaxed clothing and dig in.

Globally inspired wellness cuisine might be de rigueur by now, but this Hollywood rooftop restaurant provides a more refined, elevated version of the L.A. dining genre popularized by Café Gratitude. Perched atop a luxury fitness club, Mother Tongue features a glittering dining room perfect for date night, an equally striking outdoor patio and the requisite seen-and-be-seen Hollywood clientele. Though the vegan-friendly menu integrates "functional ingredients" thought to confer health benefits, the eclectic dishes stand on their own in terms of quality and flavor, from the shiitake mushroom larb to the rossejat de fideos, a pricey seafood vermicelli skillet meant to serve two.

Angelenos rhapsodize about Thai Town’s Ruen Pair with a fervor that borders on obsession. At this round-the-clock favorite, the enticing Southeast Asian menu is full of beer-friendly, shareable plates like fish cake pad ka prow, spongy, light rounds sautéed in basil leaves and vibrant chilies, which justifies a visit on its own. Stir-fry with Chinese olive and ground pork is served with crispy bits of flavorful meat and fresh garlic paired alongside a bowl of steaming rice. Another must order: the sautéed morning glory. Ask for it with crispy pork belly for the ultimate late-night Thai combo.

Are you willing to wait in line at 7am? No matter the hour, there's always a line at this buzzy Montreal-style bagel shop in Virgil Village. Even on weekdays, the wild-yeasted, slightly chewy bagels have remained in high demand ever since the New York Times labeled Courage Bagels one of the best bagels in America. Whether they actually are or aren't, the chewy, slightly crispy bagels are addictively delicious, especially when topped with sustainably farmed lox or farmers' market veggies. Note: Unlike other bars and eateries that dot the trendy dining corridor that straddles East Hollywood and Silver Lake, this joint is daytime only—and offers limited seating. 

This tiny, upscale brick-and-mortar Virgil Village restaurant isn’t your average Thai restaurant when it comes to price point, ambience or heat level. Instead of garden-variety pad thai and curries, chef-owner Nan Yimcharoen serves a unique seafood-centric tasting menu with Thai and Japanese influences. Currently, Kinkan offers a travel-inspired experience known as “where are we going,” where she cooks up a range of dishes inspired by her world travels. You’ll also find a more casual tapas menu Tuesdays through Thursdays and weekend-only lunchtime bento boxes—immaculate, jewel box-like arrangements that first put Yimcharoen on the map during 2020's lockdown era. In our humble opinion, first-timers shouldn’t skip the prix fixe experience. To keep up with Kinkan's menus and hours of operation, follow along on Instagram.

The longtime 101 Coffee Shop now has a fresh coat of paint, a well-stocked pastry case and similar old-school fare in the care of Zack Hall and the team behind Clark Street Bakery, and that's exactly how we like it. Here, no-frills egg dishes come carefully cooked and seasoned, the three-high stack of blueberry pancakes are dripping in real maple syrup and, of course, the bread in every hot sandwich (including a vegan burger) is first-rate—and it's all available until 3pm. While Clark Street Diner might strike some as more breakfast than brunch, the heavy weekend crowds right until close beg to differ. Besides, who can resist the lure of perfectly flaky kouign-amann alongside a cup of hot coffee and some soft-fried eggs?

Inside the Tommie Hollywood, steps away from other notable newer openings like Bar Lis, Ka’teen channels sceney Tulum resorts with a reed tunnel entrance, a lush outdoor dining room and an expansive, Yucatan-inspired menu by Wes Avila, who also runs Chinatown’s Angry Egret Dinette. Here, Guerrilla Tacos’ former head chef offers plenty of crowd-pleasing small plates, though larger format dishes like lamb neck barbacoa and pescado zarandeado (grilled whole fish) easily steal the spotlight at Ka’Teen. For those who can snag a reservation, the beautifully designed space is perfect for a dressy girls’ night, a stylish date night and, well, any night for the typical area crowd.

The idea behind Salt’s Cure is a noble one: Every meal is made from ingredients grown and raised in California, all of which are carefully butchered and crafted in-house. And it's not just a tagline here; it's a way of life for chef-owner Chris Phelps, who’s also expanded his griddle cakes-focused eatery, Breakfast by Salt’s Cure, to West Hollywood, Santa Monica and NYC’s West Village. At Phelp’s original restaurant, you can count on a great burger, as well as an array of salads and proteins, including a brown butter pork chop topped with apple butter. It’s at breakfast and brunch, though, where Salt’s Cure truly shines; if you’re in the area before noon, make sure to pay a visit for their build your own breakfast plates—including, of course, the crepe-thin, must-order oatmeal griddle cakes.

When you’re craving cozy Mexican American food with (literal) flaming margaritas, the Hollywood location of El Compadre (the other is in Echo Park) is ready to serve you every iteration of cheese, tortilla, rice, beans, salsa and a dash of sour cream and guacamole under the sun. Endless chips and salsa also mean that you’ll never leave hungry from this oldschool spot, which dates back to the '70s. El Compadre’s fun, unfussy atmosphere and solid food mean that it’s a party almost any day of the week—so make a reservation if you can.